We’re all growing more concerned about how our everyday lives impact the environment, which is even more critical for business owners. Not only is being an eco-friendly business great from the perspective of reducing any harmful consequences on the planet, but it is also something that shoppers are now very aware of when making their choices of where to buy from. Due to the explosion of online shopping, customers can now be tempted by various unique selling points of a business, one of which is how green a company is. While many brands can claim to be environmentally conscious, it is vital to ensure that you aren’t just looking at this as a selling point and understand how necessary it is in our modern world.
There are many ways you can run an eco-friendly business. Here are some great elements to consider.
Processes
Whether you have a vast warehouse that employs hundreds of staff members or a small industrial unit to store your products, you will be able to implement processes that help reduce your impact on the environment. You can start simple with actions such as turning off lights and socket switches at the end of the day or implementing more recycling stations across the area. Implementing these kinds of processes may mean retraining staff to be aware of the importance of adhering to these new ways of working, but it is crucial to make them aware of the reasons for doing so. Making sure your storage/warehouse/industrial unit space is well insulated and using LED lights may mean some investment is required, but over the long term, this will balance out. Not only does using less electricity and producing less waste mean a happier planet, but it will also reduce your general outgoings over time.
Reusing materials that you would usually throw away is another significant element to introduce to your staff. Giving staff the trust and flexibility to develop their own ideas is also a great way to see what can be done.
Packaging & Materials
Using recyclable and eco-friendly materials is a must when looking at improving your green efforts. Whether your business is fashion or food, the developments of new materials are constantly progressing and becoming more affordable as their demand and use continue to grow. Being on the cutting edge of new materials is something that you can really shout about to get a new customer base and engage your current customers even further. Regardless of your product and industry, there are now many great alternatives to traditional materials that are harmful to our world.
Recycled boxes are great for everything from gift packaging to shipping, and there are countless options of eco-friendly alternatives of box fillers to keep your products safe and secure. Forget the bubble wrap and polystyrene; opt for corrugated cardboard, biodegradable chips, shredded recycled paper, and much more. There are even developments in biodegradable polystyrene alternatives using mushrooms and other plants.
Sourcing
It is essential to try to source materials as locally as possible for all industries. This may be impossible for some products, such as more technical items that require certain metals or components. Still, it is always worth continuing to look if or when these might be available to you at a shorter distance.
The key to a successful business is to keep things fresh and new. Sourcing materials or products locally means that you can build stronger relationships with other companies and reduce your overall carbon footprint. You may find that your local networking leads to a revolution in your business or that other business owners give you some great new ideas and investment opportunities. You may have a successful process at the moment, but there is always something to be improved upon.
An excellent way to implement new practices is to think of your business process from end to end and highlight areas of improvement. You are guaranteed to find a few more minor elements that can be improved, and start with those. You can then begin to plan some more significant improvements that may require some initial investment and work out how cost-effective they will be over one year, five years, and further. Some areas of improvement may not be cost-effective at this point, but it is important to note that this is for the greater good.